[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40246-40247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14341]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; National Communication 
System for Runaway and Homeless Youth, Currently Operated by the 
National Runaway Safeline (NRS) Data Collection (New Collection)

AGENCY: Family and Youth Services Bureau, Administration for Children 
and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Family and Youth Services Bureau's (FYSB) Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Division has a legislative requirement to fund a 
National Communication System, which is currently operated by the 
National Runaway Safeline (NRS). The NRS provides information, referral 
services, crisis intervention, and prevention resources to vulnerable 
youth at risk of running away and/or becoming homeless and their 
families or legal guardians at no cost. When necessary, the NRS refers 
runaway and homeless youth to shelters, counseling, medical assistance, 
and other vital services. The NRS collects information from all 
contacts with youth and adults connecting with the NRS (i.e., parents, 
family members, legal guardians, service providers) on a voluntary 
basis to inform crisis services and develop an annual report on the 
information collected during calls, chats, emails, and forum posts from 
young people who reached out to the NRS's crisis services.

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is 
soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information 
collection described above.

ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of 
information and submit comments by emailing [email protected]. 
Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description: The NRS is required to have a system for collecting 
and analyzing data to report on calls, emails, chat, texts, and online 
messages received as well as other information, such as prevention 
resources, referrals, demographics, and visitors to the NRS website. 
The NRS must submit monthly and semi-annual reports that includes the 
following:
     Number of calls received, answered, and missed.
     Number of chats, emails, and texts received; number of 
chats, emails, and texts answered; and number of chats, emails, and 
texts that were missed and did not receive a response, in which the 
users are youth in crisis, runaway youth, and youth experiencing 
homelessness.
     Number of parents, legal guardians, and service providers 
contacting the NRS and the type of resources, interventions, and 
technical support/assistance requested and provided.
     Number and type of prevention materials disseminated to 
communities, especially to underserved populations.
     Number and type of unique visitors to the NRS' website.
     Information on referrals provided and where youth were 
referred for services.
     Information on the callers' or users' demographics and 
where they were located when contacting the NRS.
     Information on the prevention materials developed and 
disseminated by the NRS.
     Information and analysis of the latest trends and their 
impact on runaway prevention.
    The NRS will use two online forms, one form to collect relevant 
information disclosed during calls, emails, and forum posts and a 
second online form to collect information from chats. All data will be 
provided to FYSB in the aggregate and no personally identifiable data 
are collected.
    The information collected will allow FYSB to better understand the 
types of services needed by youth contacting the NRS, as well as to 
identify outreach and prevention strategies to increase the visibility 
of the NRS services among youth experiencing housing instability, 
homelessness, youth who runaway, and youth in crisis. Additionally,
    The findings from this data collection will be included in a 
required Report to Congress to provide accurate information on the 
status of youth in crisis and runaway and homeless youth nationwide.
    Respondents: Youth and adults who contact the National Runaway 
Safeline during calls, chats, emails, and forum posts.

[[Page 40247]]



                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                   Total number
                                   Total number    of responses       Average      Total burden    Annual burden
           Instrument             of respondents        per        burden hours        hours           hours
                                                    respondent     per response
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Youth in Crisis Form............          47,175               1             .23          10,850           3,617
NRS Live Chat Form..............          29,679               1             .65          19,291           6,430
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,047.
    Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a) 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.
    Authority: Section 331 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
authorizes the award of grants for the National Communication System 
for Runaway and Homeless Youth (34 U.S.C. 11231).

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-14341 Filed 7-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4182-04-P